Week Three | Idaho Legislative Update
January 23 - 27, 2023
The third week of the Sixty-Seventh Idaho Legislature’s First Regular Session brought an increase in committee meetings, resulting in many bills quickly being introduced by legislators. While budget presentations continue in JFAC, there is still no plan for how that committee will vote on spending due to Speaker Mike Moyle’s demand for more control of the budget process and splitting the House and Senate to vote separately. This issue has created a logjam for supplementals, keeping them stuck in a politically motivated power struggle preventing the process from taking place. It is a rare departure from Idaho’s normal streamlined process and will prevent the Legislature from using its most effective option of controlling the “power of the purse.” The resulting pressure, as well as the political theater and drama, has created a new nickname for the Speaker of the House, “King Moyle.” Time will tell if he truly rules the Idaho legislative kingdom.
House Majority Leader Megan Blanksma also introduced HB 24. The “Idaho Launch” program bill is for in-demand careers, granting Idaho students $8,500.00 or more to use on education and certification training for the most needed careers in Idaho. The grants would help bolster filling positions for nurses, linemen, welders, truck drivers, cybersecurity, and many more industries searching for relief. We expect to see a hearing in the House Education Committee next week and are actively working to support the Governor’s team and House Leadership on this crucial bill.
The Idaho Broadband Advisory Board also met this week and voted unanimously to allocate state funding to two projects. Proposals submitted by the Port of Lewiston and the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) received a combined total of $27 million to build open access middle mile broadband that will connect north-south routes from Moscow to Star, which these communities desperately need. This critical infrastructure will enable the state to finally have reliable, affordable broadband access and ensure that Idahoans can connect through various options. It also secures a massive amount of federal funds the state will receive to fund these projects for the unserved and underserved areas throughout Idaho. While the board did not allocate funds for several projects during this meeting, they will continue strategically using the funding to support projects going forward.
The House and Senate Health and Welfare Committees also began to review the Medicaid budget. They held a joint committee meeting to hear from the Administrator of the Division of Medicaid, Juliet Charron. Numerous members of the budget committee and policy committee members are looking at the costs associated with the state administering the Medicaid program. Legislators are seeking a way to navigate the trajectory of this costly program as they piece together many other budgets. The Committees will be required to present a letter to JFAC by January 31, 2023, determining their recommendation for the budget.
This week also rounded out the traditional starting phase of the session. Many committees have continued to review and approve appointments, rules, and fee rules while also introducing bills. With the increase in committee hearings and more bills to be considered, the Legislature will move away from personal bills that traditionally don’t move forward. The House and Senate will now begin the formal policy-making process. The Senate Personal Bill Deadline was last Friday, and the House Personal Bill Deadline is today. We are tracking personal bills, but unless they get a hearing, we will use our time and resources on your behalf elsewhere. Starting next week, we will see more matter-of-fact, substantive bills that can move past the RS introductory hearing stage and take the time to be considered by committees in full hearings.
Taxes, transportation, education, housing, workforce issues, law and order, healthcare, and many other funding and policy discussions are heating up. We expect to see many bills introduced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for continued updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything or have any questions. You can track our progress on bills, budgets, and rules we are monitoring on our Bill Tracker.